Parents with babies in intensive care say their mental health has suffered

July 25, 2018

By: Jenna Rachid

Parents with babies in intensive care say their mental health has suffered

New research has found that 80% of parents with babies in neonatal intensive care believe their mental health has suffered as a result, reports the Huffington Post.

In a survey by special care baby charity Bliss, 16% of parents were diagnosed with PTSD after their experience on the neonatal unit and 14% were diagnosed with depression. The survey also revealed the lack of support there is for new parents, 62% said they had no access to psychological support.

Chief executive of Bliss, Caroline Lee-Davey, said: ‘The shocking findings of our latest research demonstrate the vital need for better mental health support for parents whilst their baby is on the neonatal unit and beyond. ‘

Number of military veterans accessing mental health services is on the rise

More veterans are accessing mental health treatment as the NHS expands services.

According to iNews, the number of military veterans seeking help is rapidly rising due to the broadening of services offered.

NHS figures show 21,190 veterans were referred to psychological therapies from 2017-2018 in England, iNews reports.

The NHS has set out a nationwide scheme to tackle the complex mental health issues service-personnel face.

In a quote published on the NHS website, the Chair of NHS England’s Armed Forces and their Families Clinical Reference Group, Dr Jonathan Leach, said: ‘The NHS is committed to providing every veteran who needs mental health support with the best care, which is why we have already set up a dedicated new service based directly on feedback from veterans themselves.’

However, according to iNews, some individual health trusts were unable to provide the number of veterans accessing their services. MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army Captain has questioned how the demand could be properly assessed if veterans were not being recorded.